Born-Died: July 11, 1767- February 23, 1848
Party Affiliation: Federalist-Republican
Term of Presidency: 1825-1829
Vice- President: John C. Calhoun
Theme: Environment
As the American population grew, the westward movement exponentially expanded, affecting the environment through its progression. These environmental changes became deeply rooted in the society and culture of American life and the actions of John Quincy Adams. Throughout his presidency, John Quincy Adams pushed for many internal improvements within America. Internal improvements of the more local variety had a great chance of successfully passing through Congress. One such improvement was the creation of a National Road to the west. With the country ever moving westward, westerners needed better ways to export goods. The proposal for this road was received well by both the northerners, because they could ship and sell their manufactured goods to the westerners, and the westerners, who could export and import to and from the north. This, along with other such improvements backed by John Quincy Adam's administration, such as passenger railway cars that would eventually stretch from coast to coast transformed the environment of America from a mainly agrarian society, to a more industrial one. This was one of few successes on John Quincy Adam's record as president.
The ever growing force of the westward movement caused another event affecting the environment. Native Americans in general are known for living with nature, just as Americans at the time were known for raping the land they were on for whatever resources they could before moving on. And so it became that the Georgians, under fraudulent treaty, made move to take Creek lands in 1826. The treaty had been made by an native chief who did not have the power to create a treaty that would sell all the lands of the Creek nation. Adam's realizing the non-validity of the treaty ordered the Georgians not to move upon the lands. The Georgians; however, believed that the federal government had no say in the matters and moved onto the land, which after forcing the Creeks off began to mine of its resources. The native's land was stripped of many trees and turned into farmland, which in a few short years would be unfit for most crops. Adams going against the wishes of the Americans to support the rights of the Creeks made many Americans dislike him.
Analysis:
A "corrupt bargain" is hardly the way to start a presidency, as President John Quincy Adams quickly discovered in 1824. Though a celebrated secretary of state and diplomat, the actions of John Quincy Adams as a president earn him the grade of D. With his inability to gain Congressional support, and the fact that Adams' views were, for the most part, completely opposite of the American people's, he was a very ineffectual president.
As laid out in his inaugural address, Adams had many goals for his presidency. Most of these goals were attempted by him, but because of opposing views from Congress and the American people, many were not successful. One of his goals was to create a standing, trained military in times of peace for the protection and readiness of the country. This was proposed in the form of a naval academy, which though passed by a narrow margin in the Senate was defeated in the House. If passed the standing army would have been beneficial to another of Adams' goals; civilizing the natives. Because of the constant tension between the westerners and natives, as was mentioned above, this goal was too unsuccessful. Perhaps John Quincy Adams' greatest debacle in accomplishing his goals dealt with taxes. In his address Adams outlined that he would have a rigorous and responsible handling of the nation's finances so that taxes, especially high taxes would be unnecessary. Contrary to this, Adams pushed through the Tariff of 1828, later known as the "Tariff of Abominations," in order to try to protect the nations industry from dangerously low prices from Britain bankrupting American businesses. Though meant to be helpful, the tariff only hurt business more and created an uproar from the American people. Congress eventually made it so that the tariff would lower over time so that it would still provide some protection. John Q. Adams had said in his address that he wanted the will of the people to be done, yet in all of the above mentioned he went against the wishes of the people, because of his different views. However, his different views did allow him to reach one goal. This goal was to set aside partisan beliefs and work as a nation. Though many disliked Adams, he put aside his own political beliefs and kept many of the governmental workers from the previous administration based on their skill not party affiliation. He believed that to create a government of only his supporters, he would "make Government a perpetual and unremitting scramble for office." As mentioned above, Adams did have great success with his goal of internal improvements, his one true successful goal. It is this small success that keeps his presidency from being rated at an F.
Never before John Quincy Adams had there been a president so despised by his Congress. Due to many Jacksonians in Congress believing that the presidency had been stolen from Andrew Jackson through a corrupt bargain, most of Congress treated Adams like an enemy. Whenever John Q. Adams tried to pass legislation Congress was there to stand in his way. An example of this is seen through the process of trying to send two delegates to a convention of the new Latin and Caribbean countries. After finally selecting delegates funds were needed for the trip but Congress refused because the nations had outlawed slavery. The southerners of Congress feared that meeting with the nations would create the call for no slavery in all of the western hemisphere. By the time funds were gotten one of the delegates had died and the other didn't make it to the meeting in time. The only reason it seems internal transportation improvements were passed by Congress was because it was of great need and improtance for the American people. Along with these internal improvements Adams had wanted an observatory to further scientific research.. The congress fought him on this, because though Europe had many, they thought the idea was frivolous and arrogant of the president because the states had no desire for one. Of the many, many ideas that J.Q. Adams had for the nation, very few were passed through Congress. Though great in persuasion of other nations during his time as Secretary of State, Adams was not able to bring those cards to the table, keeping his grade low.
The product of Congress' dislike for Adams was that one of the very few things passed became the most positive action of his presidency. This occurrence was the creation of internal transportation improvement.
Though the creation of some of the transportation methods were through private industries, Adams' administration often backed these efforts with money or land. The National Road stretching from Maryland to Ohio led the way for further transportation such as railway passenger cars which were also supported by the President's administration. From the opposite side of the looking glass there were a multitude of negatives to Adams' presidency. The greatest negative to stand out; however, was the "Tariff of Abominations." The Tariff of Abominations was meant to protect the industry of America, but instead it hindered and destroyed that which it tried to protect. This is the worst of Adams; actions because it destroyed his reputation as president in the American people's eyes beyond repair. It is because of his successes in internal transportation that keeps John Quincy Adams' presidency from being a complete failure.
Many of the negative happenstances of Adams' presidency affected future presidencies and the lives of the American people. The most brutal future occurrence brought on by J.Q. Adams' actions was the Trail of Tears taking place during Andrew Jackson's presidency. Adams' inability to stop the Georgian's removal of the Creeks from Creek lands set the precedent for future generations to do the same to more natives. The aforementioned Trail of Tears happened when Jackson and Congress created the Indian Removal Act, stating that all natives not wanting to assimilate into American society would be moved to the mid-west. Because Adams did not present a strong hold for the Creek natives, he left the door wide open for future natives, such as the Cherokees, to be forcibly removed from their homelands.
John Quincy Adams went into his presidency with much knowledge of policies and a great dream for the future of America. In the shadow of this dream Adams remained due to his inability to persuade Congress to back his projects. For this reason John Quincy Adams deserves a D. Though J.Q. Adams in very often viewed as a complete failure as a president, it is important to remember the good that also came out of his presidency, even if the country was worse off after his presidency.
John Quincy Adams: "Inaugural Address," March 4, 1825. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25809.
Massachusetts Historical Society. "The Massachusetts Historical Society | The Adams Family Papers." Massachusetts Historical Society, an Independent Research Library Founded in 1791. Adams Papers Editorial Project, n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2011. <http://www.masshist.org/adams/timeline.cfm>.
Office of the Clerk. " Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives Art & History - Party Divisions." Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives Art & History - Art & History Home. U.S. House of Representatives, n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2011. <http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/partyDiv.aspx>.
Remini, Robert Vincent. John Quincy Adams. New York: Times Books, 2002. Print.
John Quincy Adams
Born-Died: July 11, 1767- February 23, 1848Party Affiliation: Federalist-Republican
Term of Presidency: 1825-1829
Vice- President: John C. Calhoun
Theme: Environment
As the American population grew, the westward movement exponentially expanded, affecting the environment through its progression. These environmental changes became deeply rooted in the society and culture of American life and the actions of John Quincy Adams. Throughout his presidency, John Quincy Adams pushed for many internal improvements within America. Internal improvements of the more local variety had a great chance of successfully passing through Congress. One such improvement was the creation of a National Road to the west. With the country ever moving westward, westerners needed better ways to export goods. The proposal for this road was received well by both the northerners, because they could ship and sell their manufactured goods to the westerners, and the westerners, who could export and import to and from the north. This, along with other such improvements backed by John Quincy Adam's administration, such as passenger railway cars that would eventually stretch from coast to coast transformed the environment of America from a mainly agrarian society, to a more industrial one. This was one of few successes on John Quincy Adam's record as president.The ever growing force of the westward movement caused another event affecting the environment. Native Americans in general are known for living with nature, just as Americans at the time were known for raping the land they were on for whatever resources they could before moving on. And so it became that the Georgians, under fraudulent treaty, made move to take Creek lands in 1826. The treaty had been made by an native chief who did not have the power to create a treaty that would sell all the lands of the Creek nation. Adam's realizing the non-validity of the treaty ordered the Georgians not to move upon the lands. The Georgians; however, believed that the federal government had no say in the matters and moved onto the land, which after forcing the Creeks off began to mine of its resources. The native's land was stripped of many trees and turned into farmland, which in a few short years would be unfit for most crops. Adams going against the wishes of the Americans to support the rights of the Creeks made many Americans dislike him.
Analysis:
A "corrupt bargain" is hardly the way to start a presidency, as President John Quincy Adams quickly discovered in 1824. Though a celebrated secretary of state and diplomat, the actions of John Quincy Adams as a president earn him the grade of D. With his inability to gain Congressional support, and the fact that Adams' views were, for the most part, completely opposite of the American people's, he was a very ineffectual president.As laid out in his inaugural address, Adams had many goals for his presidency. Most of these goals were attempted by him, but because of opposing views from Congress and the American people, many were not successful. One of his goals was to create a standing, trained military in times of peace for the protection and readiness of the country. This was proposed in the form of a naval academy, which though passed by a narrow margin in the Senate was defeated in the House. If passed the standing army would have been beneficial to another of Adams' goals; civilizing the natives. Because of the constant tension between the westerners and natives, as was mentioned above, this goal was too unsuccessful. Perhaps John Quincy Adams' greatest debacle in accomplishing his goals dealt with taxes. In his address Adams outlined that he would have a rigorous and responsible handling of the nation's finances so that taxes, especially high taxes would be unnecessary. Contrary to this, Adams pushed through the Tariff of 1828, later known as the "Tariff of Abominations," in order to try to protect the nations industry from dangerously low prices from Britain bankrupting American businesses. Though meant to be helpful, the tariff only hurt business more and created an uproar from the American people. Congress eventually made it so that the tariff would lower over time so that it would still provide some protection. John Q. Adams had said in his address that he wanted the will of the people to be done, yet in all of the above mentioned he went against the wishes of the people, because of his different views. However, his different views did allow him to reach one goal. This goal was to set aside partisan beliefs and work as a nation. Though many disliked Adams, he put aside his own political beliefs and kept many of the governmental workers from the previous administration based on their skill not party affiliation. He believed that to create a government of only his supporters, he would "make Government a perpetual and unremitting scramble for office." As mentioned above, Adams did have great success with his goal of internal improvements, his one true successful goal. It is this small success that keeps his presidency from being rated at an F.
Never before John Quincy Adams had there been a president so despised by his Congress. Due to many Jacksonians in Congress believing that the presidency had been stolen from Andrew Jackson through a corrupt bargain, most of Congress treated Adams like an enemy. Whenever John Q. Adams tried to pass legislation Congress was there to stand in his way. An example of this is seen through the process of trying to send two delegates to a convention of the new Latin and Caribbean countries. After finally selecting delegates funds were needed for the trip but Congress refused because the nations had outlawed slavery. The southerners of Congress feared that meeting with the nations would create the call for no slavery in all of the western hemisphere. By the time funds were gotten one of the delegates had died and the other didn't make it to the meeting in time. The only reason it seems internal transportation improvements were passed by Congress was because it was of great need and improtance for the American people. Along with these internal improvements Adams had wanted an observatory to further scientific research.. The congress fought him on this, because though Europe had many, they thought the idea was frivolous and arrogant of the president because the states had no desire for one. Of the many, many ideas that J.Q. Adams had for the nation, very few were passed through Congress. Though great in persuasion of other nations during his time as Secretary of State, Adams was not able to bring those cards to the table, keeping his grade low.
The product of Congress' dislike for Adams was that one of the very few things passed became the most positive action of his presidency. This occurrence was the creation of internal transportation improvement.
Though the creation of some of the transportation methods were through private industries, Adams' administration often backed these efforts with money or land. The National Road stretching from Maryland to Ohio led the way for further transportation such as railway passenger cars which were also supported by the President's administration. From the opposite side of the looking glass there were a multitude of negatives to Adams' presidency. The greatest negative to stand out; however, was the "Tariff of Abominations." The Tariff of Abominations was meant to protect the industry of America, but instead it hindered and destroyed that which it tried to protect. This is the worst of Adams; actions because it destroyed his reputation as president in the American people's eyes beyond repair. It is because of his successes in internal transportation that keeps John Quincy Adams' presidency from being a complete failure.
Many of the negative happenstances of Adams' presidency affected future presidencies and the lives of the American people. The most brutal future occurrence brought on by J.Q. Adams' actions was the Trail of Tears taking place during Andrew Jackson's presidency. Adams' inability to stop the Georgian's removal of the Creeks from Creek lands set the precedent for future generations to do the same to more natives. The aforementioned Trail of Tears happened when Jackson and Congress created the Indian Removal Act, stating that all natives not wanting to assimilate into American society would be moved to the mid-west. Because Adams did not present a strong hold for the Creek natives, he left the door wide open for future natives, such as the Cherokees, to be forcibly removed from their homelands.
John Quincy Adams went into his presidency with much knowledge of policies and a great dream for the future of America. In the shadow of this dream Adams remained due to his inability to persuade Congress to back his projects. For this reason John Quincy Adams deserves a D. Though J.Q. Adams in very often viewed as a complete failure as a president, it is important to remember the good that also came out of his presidency, even if the country was worse off after his presidency.
John Quincy Adams: "Inaugural Address," March 4, 1825. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25809.
"John Quincy Adams | The White House." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2011. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnquincyadams>.
Massachusetts Historical Society. "The Massachusetts Historical Society | The Adams Family Papers." Massachusetts Historical Society, an Independent Research Library Founded in 1791. Adams Papers Editorial Project, n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2011. <http://www.masshist.org/adams/timeline.cfm>.
Office of the Clerk. " Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives Art & History - Party Divisions." Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives Art & History - Art & History Home. U.S. House of Representatives, n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2011. <http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history/partyDiv.aspx>.
Remini, Robert Vincent. John Quincy Adams. New York: Times Books, 2002. Print.
"U.S. Senate: Art & History Home > Origins & Development > Party Division." U.S. Senate. U.S. Senate, n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2011. <http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm>.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25809#axzz1a3l4TwRJ